Newspaper umbrella frame



Oct. 25, 1966 J. zwi-:BEN 3,280,830

NEWSPAPER UMBRELLA FRAME Filed Dec. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l K Il@ INVENTOR Si ./Bqfse/a/v Z weben I Oct. 25, 1966 J. zwEBEN NEWSPAPER UMBRELLA FRAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1964 INVENTOR Zwebe/ 9L AFER/VE -5- NEWSPAPER UMBRELLA FRAME 57a 5g 2/ 2,2/ V 2'5/ 5 i gw f ffa/ l 20 f`,

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INVENTOR Josep/7 Z weben Oct. 25, 1966 Filed Deo. 28, 1964 J. ZWEBEN NEWSPAPER UMBRELLA FRAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV ENTOR United States Patent O 3,280,830 NEWSPAPER UMBRELLA FRAME `Ioseph Zweben, 2492 Williams Court, Bellmore, N.Y. Filed Dec. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 421,408 Claims. (Ci. 13S-19.5)

This invention -relates `generally to umbrellas and is more particularly concerned with a collapsible, portab'le frame to which one or ymore sections of a standard-size newspaper or a tabloid newspaper can be attached to serve as an emergency umbrella.

It frequently occurs that persons away from home or ofce .are confronted with unexpected inclement weather and become exposed to conditions of rain, snow or other unpleasant weather conditions, without proper shelter or cover. In most instances such persons must either suffer the consequences of exposure to the rain or snow or wind and must remain under the shelter of a building, `a subway, bus or railroad station, or other permanent. structure until the weather clears. Most persons are aware of these hazards but prefer t'o risk them rather than carry a conventional ribbed umbrella which, as is well known, is awkward to carry and is often lost or misplaced. Furthermore, the conventional ribbed urnbrella provides a very precarious a-nd inadequate cover yat best. -It is diiicult to carry since its Imain weight is at its upper end remote from the handle at its lower end. It often turns inside out in windy, rainy weather and must be discarded just when its protective cover is ymost urgently needed.

Accor-ding to the present invention, the above and other diiiiculties and objections to conventional umbrellas are overcome by providing a collapsible umbrella frame which can be attached to -any newspaper which a person generally carries or can easily obtain. `One section of a standard-size newspaper, like the New York Times, or a tabloid newspaper .like the Daily News (New York) can be quick-ly engaged on ends of the unfolded frame. This will form a complete emergency rain cover or umbrella which a person can hold over his head and let fall over his neck and shoulders down his back to protect himself `from the weathe-r. He will be protected more effectively than he can be with a convention-al rib -umbrella having 'a fabric cover. Once he is safely out of the weather, the person using the emergency umbrella can discard the wet newspaper and fold up the umbrella frame for use again at another time.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide 'an emergency umbrella including a T-shaped collapsible frame having a plurality of pivotally engaged links with catch means at ends of the frame `for detachably engaging one or 4more sections of a newspaper.

A further object is to provide an emergency umbrella including a -exible T-shaiped collapsible frame including a plurality of pivotally engaged links, the links at free ends of the frame having integrally formed ilexible lingers for engaging edges of a paper cover.

Another object is to provide .an emergency umbrella as last described, with a paper cover detachably held at its edges by the fingers at ends of the frame, so that the entire umbrella has a bowed coniiguration for conforming to and protecting the body of a person.

For further comprehension of the invention, land of the objects and advantages thereof, reference wil-l be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying diawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

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FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an umbrella frame according to the invention, shown in open, extended position,

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the device shown in use,

FIG. 1B is a similar view,

lFIG. 1C is a similar view,

FIG. 2 is .a perspective view of the umbrella frame in collapsed position,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, parts being broken away,

FIG. 4 is an elevational view on a reduced scale of an emergency umbrella employing the frame of FIG. l,

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view t-aken on line 5 5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the umbrella of FIG. 4, showing the reverse or outer side thereof, part of the paper cover being broken away,

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another umbrella frame in open, extended position,

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of -a further umbrella frame,

FIG. 9 is an exploded, enlarged perspective View of parts of the umbrella frame of FIGA'. 8,

FIG. l0 is a perspective View of the frame of stil-l another umbrella frame in partially ope-n position,

FIG. 11 is -a sectional view similar to part of FIG. 3, of an umbrella frame embodying another form of the invention,

FIG. l2 is .an exploded perspective view of parts of the umbrella frame of 1FIG. 11, and

FIG. 13 is a sectional View taken on the line 13-13 of FIG. 1C.

Referring .rst to FIGS. 1-6 there is shown an umbrella frame 20 havi-ng a T-shape-d form when in open extended position as best shown in FIGS. l and 4. The frame includes five links 21d25. Each link is made of metal, wood or plastic material which may ex or be resilient. It is a ilat rectangular strip or bar having a width .approximately one in-ch, a length of approximately seven inches vand a thickness of about one-eighth of an inch, combined. These dimensions are important as will be explained below.

Link 21 has one end overlapping and pivot-ally connected to link 22 by a rivet .30. The other end of link 22 overlaps .and is pivotally connected by rivet 31 to one end of each of links 23 `and 25. The other end of link 23 overlaps and is pivotally connected to one end of link 24 by Ia rivet 32. The rivets 30, 31 and 32 pivotally secure the links rather tightly together so that when the links are in extended positions .as shown in lFIG. 1 and in collapsed position as shown in FIG. 2, they are frictionally engaged and will not pivot with respect to each other without application of some manually applied force.

The outer or end link 21 is formed near its free end with a generally C-shaped slot 34 having one end 37 Iat upper edge 36 of the link. The other end 37a of the slot terminates a short distance from end edge 35 of the link. This defines a exible fin-ger 3S normally disposed in the plane yof the link. The inner rounded end 39 of the linger can be deflected outwardly of the plane of the link to engage one edge -of sheets of a newspaper 40 as shown in FIGS. 4-6. The free end of link 24 has a similar C-shaped slot 34 which defines a ilexible linger 38. One end 37 of slot 34 opens inwardly from upper edge 36 of the link. The other end 37a of the slot terminates a short distance from free end edge 35 of the link 24.

Links 2].-24 in open position define a fiexible straight bar. Link 25 is normally disposed perpendicular to the links 21-24 and is located midway between the ends 35, 35 of the frame. It will be noted that the hand H1 of Ia person can grasp the frame with forefinger F1 and middle finger F2 overlaying the upper edge 41 of link 23 laterally of vertical edge 42 of link 25. The middle finger a-buts edge 42, and tips of the fingers 4overlay the flat side -of link 23. Similarly, third finger F3 and fourth finger F4 overlay the upper edge 43 of link 22 at link 25. The side of finger F3 abuts'vertical edge 44 of link 25 and tips of the fingers abut the side of link 22. The

palm P of the hand abuts the bottom edges 45, 46 of links 22, 23 and thumb T further abuts bottom edge 46. In this arrangement the frame is held in rigid T-shaped array while the frame is in use with cover newspaper sheets 40.

The newspaper sheets 40 shown in FIGS. 4-6 have a lateral or horizontal dimension standardized as 4approximately twenty-three inches. The distance H between ends 37a, 37a of slots 34, 34 should be at least twentythree inches or slightly more. Then when lateral, ver-tical edges E, E of the sheets 40 are engaged in slots 34, 34 by fingers 38, 38', the frame 20 may assume a horizontal or slightly bowed position as best shown in FIG. 5 and the newspaper sheets 40 will conform thereto.

The vertical link 25 has a C-shaped slot 34 formed therein with an integral flexible finger 38" which engages in the upper horizontal edge E of the sheets 40. The horizontal dimension H of a standard newspaper sheet is about fifteen inches when folded. Thus it will be apparent that the frame is located at the upper half of the sheets 40 when unfolded and placed lengthwise, or approximately 23 inches wide. If sheets 46 are those Iof tabloid size newspaper and are spread out so that their center vertical f-old VF is open, this center fold will be located midway between lateral edges 35, 35 of the frame as sh-own in FIG. 4. If desired, sheets 40 can tbe those of a standard size newspaper, 15 inches wide yor 23 inches lengthwise. These sheets are conventionally twenty-three inches wide and thirty inches long when unfolded. If the paper is completely unfolded, then the vertical length V of the umbrella 20 will be thirty inches Iand the horizontal width H of the umbrella will be twenty-three inches. When such an umbrella is held close to the back and directly over the head of a person in the rain, 4it will be apparent that considerable better coverage and protection is afforded than is afforded by a conventional ribbed umbrella where the cover of the umbrella is held aloft on a slender vertical shaft.

When a person using the umbrella 20 reaches his destination and is out of the weather, he will remove the Wet newspaper sheets 40 and discard them. He will fold the frame 20 to the compact, straight, flat arrangement shown in FIG. 2. The total thickness of the folded frame will be less than an inch and closer t-o a half inch since the five individual links each has a thickness of no m-ore than one-eighth of an inch. The entire length of the folded frame will be no more than seven inches. This folded frame is light in weight, and small enough in size to fit conveniently int-o a coat or trouser pocket or into a ladys purse.

IIn FIG. 7 is shown a frame 20a which is similar to frame 20 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. In links 21a, 24a, and 25a the slots 34a, 34a and 34a are all U-shaped with spaced parallel edges. The ends of the slot edges are equally spaced from the end edges of the links and the flexible fingers 38a, 38a' and 38a" are straight. This finger structure may be somewhat simpler to manipulate and easier to engage on the edges E, E and E" of the newspaper sheets, and may hold the paper edges more tightly than the fingers 38, 38 and 38 defined by the C-shaped slots.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a frame 2Gb which is similar to fram-e 20 and corresponding parts are identically numbered. Link 22h is formed at its upper edge 43' with a pair of adjacent curved indentations or notches 5l), 51 which receive the fingers F3 and F4 of the persons hand H2. A further curved notch or indentation 53 formed in vertical edge 44 of link 25b. Link 23b has a curved notch 54 in its upper edge 41 which receives finger F1. An adjacent notch 55 is continuous with a curved notch or indentation 56 formed in vertical edge 42 of link 25b to rece-ive finger F2. An oval extension 58 is formed at the lower end of link 2511. The curved bottom edge 59 of this extension fits the palm P' of the persons hand. This arrangement of the frame with the several notches and indentations will be found somewhat more comfortable to hold in the hand since it conforms to the fingers and palm. Holes 60, 61 and 62 in the overlapped ends of links 22h, 23h, and 25b receive rivet 31 as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 shows frame 20c which has flexible fingers 38a, 38a', 38a" formed in links 21a, 24a and 25e in the same manner as in the links 21a, 24a and 25a of frame 20a. In addition link 25C has an oval extension 58 and notches 53, 56 identical to those in link 25b. Notches are formed in links 22h and 23b identical to those in links 22h, 23b of frame 20h. When the frame 20b or 20c is collapsed, the extension 5S may serve as a handle making it easier to hold, carry and manipulate the frame in opening and closing it.

FIGS. 1l and l2 show indentations 63-66 formed in links 22d, 23d, 25d near rivets 3f?, 31, 32 of frame 20d. These indentations receive projections 70-73 formed on links 21d, 22d, 24d, 25d. The engagement of the projections in the indentations helps to hold the links extended and in retracted positions.

Each of the umbrella frames described can be made at very low cost from inexpensive lightweight metal or plastic or even heavy gauge cardboard strips cut transversely to form the links. The C-slots or U-slots can be die cut or formed on conventional jigsaw machines. The rivets 30-32 can be made by high-speed mass production riveting machinery. The frames can be made up in different attractive colors. They can be made inexpensively enough to be given away gratis by stores to customers as promotional give-aways. The frames can be printed with advertising indicia. Also the frames can be sold in department stores or as a mail-order item for a nominal sum.

The conventional size of a standard newspaper like the New York Times is approximately 15 inches wide by 23 inches long. The frame can be attached to this dimension in its lengthwise position as shown in FIG. 1A.

For better protection the newspaper should be unfolded from the center spread of one section, as shown in FIG. 1B, making the size approximately 30 inches wide by 23 inches -deep lengthwise.

The frame slips onto the newspaper at its lengthwise dimension 23 inches. Holding it like a kite, the frame is then placed over the head, with the center brace about 12 inches in front of the eyes. It should rest gently on the head, with the full 30 inch length falling down the persons back, covering his neck and shoulders, as shown in FIG. 1B.

For the tabloid size newspapers like the New York Daily News, the frame can be attached to its normal unfolded width of about 23 inches.

In order to obtain further coverage, two sections of the standard size newspaper should 'be used as shown in FIG. 1C. In the vertical position, by placing one long edge of one section in overlapping relation over the adjacent long edge of the other section as shown in FIG. 13 for an area of about 8 inches, an approximate width of 23 inches can be obtained. The overlapped nested long e-dges of the section are then inserted into the slots in the end links between the fingers 38 and 38 and the adjacent ends of the slots 37 and 37. The umbrella thus comprises two sections of the newspaper hanging downwardly over the sides of the person.

In lorder to `obtain further coverage from tabloid newspapers, two sections should be made of the newspaper in the vertical position by placing one long edge of one section in overlapping relationship of the adjacent long edge `of the other section for an area of about 8 inches; an approximate width of 23 inches can be obtained. The overlapped nested long edges lof the section are then inserted into the slots in the end links between the fingers 38 and 38 and the adjacent ends of slots 37, 37. The umbrella thus comprises two sections of the tabloid newspaper hanging downwardly over the back of the person, as when using the standard type newspaper.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. An emergency umbrella, comprising a plurality of thin fiat, narrow, fiexible, straight links, first pivot means pivotally connecting one end of a first link to one end of a second link, second pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the second link to one end of a third lin-k and to one end of a fourth link, and third pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the third link to one end of a fifth link, said pivot means holding the links tightly together so that the links can be selectively positioned in a stable T-shaped open extended configuration and in a stable straight, fiat, contracted position with the links disposed in close side-by-side array, said T-shaped configuration including the first, second, third and fifth links in a straight bar arrangement with the fourth link disposed coplanar with and perpendicularly to the second and third links at the comm-on connection thereof, spring fingers integrally formed with .the other ends of the first, fourth and fifth links, and at least one rectangular paper sheet having three edges respectively engaged by the spring fingers of the first, fourth and fifth links.

2. An emergency umbrella, comprising a plurality of thin fiat, narrow, flexible, straight links, first pivot means pivotally connecting one end of a first link to one end of a second link, second pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the second link to one end of a third link and to one end of a fourth link, and third pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the third link to one end of a fifth link, said pivot means holding the links tightly together so that the links can be selectively positioned in a stable T-shaped open extended configuration and in a stable straight, fiat, contracted position with the lin-ks disposed in close side-by-side array, said T-shaped configuration including the first, second, third and fifth links in a straight bar arrangement with the fourth link disposed coplanar with and perpendicularly to the second and third links at the common connection thereof, spring fingers integrally formed with the other end -of the first, fourth and fth links, and at least one rectangular paper sheet having three edges respectively engaged lby the spring fingers of the first, fourth and fifth links, said spring fingers Ibeing defined :by slots formed near the other ends of the first, fourth and fifth links respect-ively.

3. An emergency umbrella, comprising a plurality of thin, fiat, narrow, fiexible, straight links, first pivot means pivotally connect-ing one end of a first link toone end of a second link, second pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the second -link to one end of a third link and to one end of a fourth link, and-third pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the third link to one end of a fifth link, said pivot means holding the links tightly together so that the links can be selectively positioned in a stable T-shaped open extended configuration and in a stable straight, fiat, contracted position with the links disposed in close side-by-side array, said T-shaped configuration including the first, second, third and fth links in a straight bar arrangement with the fourth link disposed coplanar with and perpendicularly to the second and third links at the common connection thereof, spring fingers integrally formed with the other ends of the first, fourth and fifth links, and at least one rectangular paper `sheet having three edges respectively engaged by the spring fingers of the first, fourth and fifth links, said second and third and fourth links having curved notches in lateral edges thereof near the common connection thereof for receiving the fingers of a persons hand to facilitate holding the links in said T- shaped open configuration, `said fourth link having an oval extension at the one end thereof for receiving the palm of the persons hand.

4. An emergency umbrella frame, comprising a plurality of thin, fiat, narrow, fiexible, straight links, first pivot means pivotally connecting one end of a first link to one end of a second link, second pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the second link to one end of a third link and to one end of a fourth link, and third pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the third link to one end of a fifth link, said pivot means holding the links tightly together so that the links can be selectively positioned in a stable T-shaped open extended configuration and in a stable straight, fiat, contracted position with the links `disposed in close side-by-side array, said T-shaped configuration including the first, second, third and fifth links in a straight bar arrangement with the fourth link disposed coplanar with `and perpendicularly to the second and third links at the common connection thereof, and spring fingers formed by slots at other ends of the first, fourth and fifth links for detachably engaging respective edges of a rectangular paper sheet, said second, third and fourth links having curved notches in lateral edges thereof near the common conne-ction thereof for receiving the fingers of a persons hand to facilitate holding the links in said T-shaped open configuration, said fourth link having an oval extension at the one end thereof for receiving the palm of the persons hand.

5. An emergency umbrella frame, comprising a plurality of thin, fiat, narrow, fiexible, straight links, first pivot means pivotally connecting one end of a first link to one end of a second link, second pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the secon-d link to one end of a third link and to one end of a fourth link, and third pivot means pivotally connecting the other end of the third link to one end of a fifth link, said pivot means holding the links tightly together so that the links can be selectively positioned in a stable T-shaped open extended configuration and in a stable straight, fiat, contracted position with the links disposed in close side-by-s-ide array, said T-shaped configuration including the first, second, third and fifth links in a straight bar arrangement W-ith the fourth link disposed coplanar with `and perpendicularly to the second and third links at the common connection thereof, and spring fingers formed by slots at other ends of the first, fourth and fifth links for detachably engaging respective edges of a rectangular paper sheet, said second, third and fourth links having curved notches in lateral edges thereof near the common connection thereof for receiving the fingers of a persons hand to facilitate holding the links in said T -shaped open configuration, said fourth link having an oval extension at the one end thereof for receiving the palm of the persons hand, said slots being generally U-shaped with both References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1938 Myers 13s-19.5 X 3/1954 McPartland 13S-19.5

8 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,653 6/ 1906 Great Britain. 245,195 12/ 1925 Great Britain. 233,713 1 1/ 1944 Switzerland.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

W. E. HEAT-ON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN EMERGENCY UMBRELLA, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF THIN FLAT, NARROW, STRAIGHT LINKS, FIRST PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING ONE END OF A FIRST LINK TO ONE END OF A SECOND LINK, SECOND PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF THE SECOND LINKS TO ONE END OF A THIRD LINK AND TO ONE END OF A FOURTH LINK, AND THIRD PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF THE THIRD LINK TO ONE END OF A FIFTH LINK, SAID PIVOT MEANS HOLDING THE LINKS TIGHTLY TOGETHER SO THAT THE LINKS CAN BE SELECTIVELY POSITIONED IN A STABLE T-SHAPED OPEN EXTENDED CONFIGURATION AND IN A STABLE T-SHAPED OPEN EXTENDED CONTION WITH THE LINKS DISPOSED IN CLOSE SIDE-BY-SIDE ARRAY, SAID T-SHAPED CONFIGURATION INCLUDING THE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FIFTH LINKS IN A STRAIGHT BAR ARRANGEMENT WITH THE FOURTH LINK DISPOSED COPLANAR WITH AND PERPENDICULARLY TO THE SECOND AND THIRD LINKS AT THE COMMON CONNECTION THEREOF, SPRING FINGERS INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH THE OTHER ENDS OF THE FIRST, FOURTH AND FIFTH LINKS, AND AT LEAST ONE RECTANGULAR PAPER SHEET HAVING THREE EDGES RESPECTIVELY ENGAGED BY THE SPRING FINGERS OF THE FIRST, FOURTH AND FIFTH LINKS. 